''The Scientific Cardplayer'', also known as ''The Scopone Game'' (), is a 1972 Italian

comedy-drama film Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, illness, betrayal, grief, etc. ...

directed by

Luigi Comencini Luigi Comencini (; 8 June 1916 – 6 April 2007) was an Italian film director. Together with Dino Risi, Ettore Scola, and Mario Monicelli, he was considered among the masters of the "commedia all'italiana" genre. His daughters Cristina Comencin ...

. The screenplay was written by Rodolfo Sonego. In 2008, the film was included on the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage’s 100 Italian films to be saved, a list of 100 films that "have changed the collective memory of the country between 1942 and 1978."

Plot

An aging and wealthy American woman journeys to Rome each year with her chauffeur George to play the card game scopone with destitute Peppino and his wife Antonia. The annual scenario remains unchanged: she donates the initial stakes, then ultimately wins the game, shattering the couple's dream of scoring a victory and improving their lot in life. Eventually their daughter Cleopatra seeks revenge on her parents' behalf.

Production

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress of film, television, and theater. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history, she was noted for her willingness to play unsympatheti ...

was in the midst of a three-week vacation at the La Costa health spa in

Carlsbad, California Carlsbad is a beach city in the North County area of San Diego County, California, United States. The city is north of downtown San Diego and south of downtown Los Angeles. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of ...

when she received the script. On 24-hour notice, she flew to Rome for filming, but did not learn that the dialogue was to be recorded in Italian until the first day of shooting. This was the third on-screen pairing of Davis and

Joseph Cotten Joseph Cheshire Cotten Jr. (May 15, 1905 – February 6, 1994) was an American film, stage, radio and television actor. Cotten achieved prominence on Broadway, starring in the original stage productions of '' The Philadelphia Story'' (1939) an ...

. They had previously costarred in '' Beyond the Forest'' (1949) and '' Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte'' (1964).

Cast

(dubbed by Lia Zoppelli) as The Millionairess *

as George *

Alberto Sordi Alberto Sordi (15 June 1920 – 24 February 2003) was an Italian actor, comedian, voice dubber, director, singer, composer and screenwriter. Sordi is considered one of the most important actors in the history of Italian cinema and one of the b ...

as Peppino *

Silvana Mangano Silvana Mangano (; 21 April 1930 – 16 December 1989) was an Italian film actress. She was one of a generation of thespians who arose from the neorealist movement, and went on to become a major female star, regarded as a sex symbol for the 19 ...

as Antonia * Antonella Demaggi (dubbed by ) as Cleopatra *

Mario Carotenuto Mario Carotenuto (30 June 1916 – 14 April 1995) was an Italian actor of film and theatre. Biography Carotenuto is the son of Nello Carotenuto, a silent film actor, and younger brother of the actor Memmo Carotenuto. After the 1943 Armistic ...

as The Professor *

Domenico Modugno Domenico Modugno (; 9 January 1928 – 6 August 1994) was an Italian singer, actor and, later in life, a member of the Italian Parliament. He is known for his 1958 international hit song " Nel blu dipinto di blu", for which he received the fir ...

as Righetto

Production credits

* Produced by

Dino De Laurentiis Agostino "Dino" De Laurentiis (; 8 August 1919 – 10 November 2010) was an Italian film producer and businessman who held both Italian and American citizenship. Following a brief acting career in the late 1930s and early 1940s, he moved into f ...

* Original music by

Piero Piccioni Piero Piccioni (; December 6, 1921 – July 23, 2004) was an Italian film score composer. A pianist, organist, conductor, and composer, he was also the prolific author of more than 300 film soundtracks. He played for the first time on radio in ...

* Cinematography by

Giuseppe Ruzzolini Giuseppe Ruzzolini (21 May 1930 - 16 April 2007) was an Italian cinematographer. Career Ruzzolini is known for lensing such films as Stephen King's '' Firestarter'', ''Oedipus Rex'', Sergio Leone Sergio Leone ( ; ; 3 January 1929 – 30 ...

* Art direction by Luigi Scaccianoce * Costume design by Bruna Parmesan

Awards

* 1973 David di Donatello Award for Best Actor (Alberto Sordi, winner) * 1973 David di Donatello Award for Best Actress (Silvana Mangano, winner) * 1973 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists

Nastro d'Argento The (plural: ''Nastri d'Argento''; English: Silver Ribbon) is an Italian film award, held since 1946 by the ''Sindacato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani'' (Italian National Union of Film Journalists). Awards are given annually in ...

for Best Supporting Actor (Mario Carotenuto, winner)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Scientific Cardplayer, The 1972 films 1972 comedy-drama films 1970s Italian films 1970s Italian-language films Italian comedy-drama films Italian films about gambling Films directed by Luigi Comencini Films set in Rome Films shot in Rome Films scored by Piero Piccioni